Stave-bending machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. DE BUS.

STAVE BENDING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 25, 1882.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sneet 2.

H. DE BUS;

STAVE BENDING MACHINE.

No. 256,986. Patented Apr. 25, 1882.

. IL 2 I a jY lk' l UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY DE BUS, OF RIVERSIDE, OHIO.

STAVE-BENDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 256,986, dated April 25, 1882-, Application filed January 21. 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be known that I, HENRY DE Bus, of Riverside, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Devices for Bending Staves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for bending to their desired longitudinal curve pieces of previously-steamed timber, in order to fit them to form or constitute the component staves of a cask or keg.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of a machine embodying my said improvements, from which a major portion of the formers are omitted for convenience of illustration. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of such machine with a former in its open condition. Fig. 3 shows the same with the former in the closed condition and with the stave bent. Fig. 4 is a top view of the same.

A represents a suitable truck, which consists of a bed or platform, 13, that rests upon four wheels, of which two wheels, 0 O, are preferably of larger size than the others, and are external to and at mid-length of the truck, and two, D D, are situated under the ends of the truclrbed and atmid-width of the same. Fastened to the bed-floor is a series of identical forms, E, whose crowns c are convex to correspond with the desired longitudinal concavity of the stave. With each form is associated a bending-strap, with its lever and projections, for imparting the desired upset or end press ure, to Wit: An eye-piece, F, constituting the bearing of a pivot, G, of the casting H, having a. lug or shoulder, 11, that does duty as the rear-end abutment, and also serves as a lug around which the rear end, j, of the steel strap J is bent, a flange, h, on the said casting being perforated, receives belts or rivets K, by which the strap J is fastened to said casting. The bent portion j of strap relieves the bolts K from the major part of the tension and prevents them from tearing loose. To the front extremityof said strap is attached by rivets K loop or eye-piece L, that affords bearing for the pivot M of a casting, N, ofwhich one part, it,

serves in the act of bending to press against the forward end of the timber. A shank, O, that extends forward from said casting N, receives the lever P, by which the work is manipulated.

A rigid tongue, Q, that projects rearwardly from the upper part of thecasting N, rests upon the strap or upon the eye-plates, and enables the readyliftingof the forward end of the strap by simple elevation of the lever when the work is done.

Ris a hook, whoseengageinentover the shank 0, when itis carried down by thelever P, serves to hold the device to its closed position until the timber has acquired its desired set.

The operation of the machine is as follows: A lever being thrown back, as shown in Fig. 2, a freshly-steamed piece of timber is inserted, and the lever being depressed the abutments h n bear against the ends of the timber. Any further depression of the lever then operates to simultaneously draw the strap tightly against the stave-back and to forcibly compress the ends of the stave, the abutment-piece N in particular revolving sharply about its pivot M, as indicated by arrow in Fig. 3, so as to insure the effective compression in direction of the length of the fibers of the portions nearest to the concave face of the stave and in proportion to their nearness to said face.

I claim as new and of my invention- 1. The combination, with the flexible strap of a wood-bending machine, of the end lever hinged thereto by a plate, N, which takes abearing on the strap and serves to slightly lift the lever, as set forth.

2. In a stave-bending apparatus, the combination of the former E c, strap J, pivoted abutments h n, and the pivotbearing L, attached to and at or nearly in line with the strap, substantially as set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

HENRY DE BUS. Witnesses:

GEO. H.'KNIGHT, S. S. CARPENTER. 

